Pataki Aide Returns The Favor

David Catalfamo, communications director for Gov. George Pataki, fired off a response to AG Eliot Spitzer’s comment earlier today that LMDC has been “an abject failure.” Catalfamo took offense largely on behalf ofÂ former LMDC Board Chairman John Whitehead, who resigned earlier this month, and subtely rescurrected the issue of Spitzer’s anger.

“On the day our nation set aside to honor our heroes, Eliot Spitzer continued his ill conceived personal vendetta against John Whitehead,” Catalfamo said.Â “A petulant vendetta based in trying to silence theÂ very freedom of expression that John Whitehead fought to preserve on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Normandy. Eliot Spitzer might not ‘do parades,’ but maybe on Memorial Day he should take a break from defaming true american heroes like John Whitehead.”

Catalfamo was referencing an alleged exchange between Whitehead and Spitzer that made headlines last winter. Whitehead maintained that in a phone conversation nine months earlier, he had been threatened by Spitzer, who, at the time, was investigating Whitehead’s friend, insurance magnate MauriceÂ Greenberg. Whitehead, an ex-Wall Street executive, had publicly criticized the investigation.

Whitehead claimed in aÂ Wall Street Journal opinion piece that Spitzer told him:Â “IÂ will be coming after you.Â You will pay the price.” Whitehead said he had notes of the conversation, but no tape. Spitzer denied threatening anyone, but conceded (in a general sense) that sometimes he looked back on conversations and thought “Yeah, you couldn’t have changed a word here or there.”

Republicans said theÂ incident was proof the AG did not have the disposition to be governor.

For the record, Spitzer did briefly observe Memorial Day today. He laid a wreath at a veteran’s memorial on his way from the Buffalo Airport to Niagara falls, where he rode the Maid of the Mist (something he’s been waiting 40 years to do, more on that later) and spoke at a sparsely attended rally in a park adjacent to the falls.

Now we head to downtown Buffalo and another rally at Dunn Tire Park. Â